Peter Obi laments Super Eagles denied match allowances ahead of crucial AFCON quarter-final
Peter Obi has condemned the federal government's failure to pay match allowances owed to Super Eagles players, calling it an avoidable embarrassment ahead of Nigeria's crucial AFCON 2025 quarter-final match. In a post on his verified X handle Wednesday, the former Labour Party presidential candidate questioned when such failures would end. "At a time when Nigerians need joy and unity—something the national football team has been providing by winning matches and lifting our spirits worldwide—these same players are being denied their basic match allowances," Obi wrote. He criticized the government's priorities, noting that Nigeria writes off trillions in debts for government agencies and political allies while struggling to pay bonuses owed to players representing the country. The Super Eagles face a quarter-final match amid this controversy, with players reportedly refusing to travel for an earlier Algeria game over unpaid bonuses. Obi argued that Nigeria's international image suffers when it fails to honor previously agreed-upon financial obligations to its athletes before tournaments. This comes as Nigeria seeks to improve its standing in continental football, with the team's performance providing rare moments of national unity.